Can dispensing apparatus



Dec. 17,1968 A.R.GRQSS' 3,416,706

CAN DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. R.GRoss AT TORNEYS Dec. 17, 1968 A. R. GROSS 3,416,706

CAN DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Z2 Fzcf' 87 INVENTOR. ART/40R R. Gnqss ATTO RNEYS Dec. 17, 1968 A. R. GROSSCAN DISPENS ING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4ACCUMULATOR INVENTOR. ARTHUR H. Gnoss BY v . AT TORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,416,706 CAN DISPENSING APPARATUS Arltll ur (550 55, Paul,Minn., assignor to Gross-Given anu ac rm om an St. Paul of Minnesota g Ip y, Mum a corporation Filed Sept. 5, 1967, Ser. No. 665,315 7 Claims.(Cl. 2211I) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A housing having a plurality ofvertically overlying magazines mounted therein, each adapted to receivea'plurality of cans therein, canted toward a vertical passagewaypositioned in communication with one end of each of said magazines. Anelongated slot through either wall of said housing adjacent the one endof each of said magazines and a bar extending through pairs of saidslots and fixedly engaged in a carriage mounted for generally verticalsliding movement relative to said housing. Said bars being in magazineblocking positions once the carriage is in a first position and inpassageway blocking positions when the carriage is in a second position.Spring means biasing said carriage toward said second position and latchmeans attached to the housing so as to extend at least partially intothe passageway. When the passageway has cans therein, the latch means ismaintained in a position wherein the carriage is engaged and held in thefirst position, and when the cans "are removed from the passageway, thelatch means moves under spring bias into a position wherein the carriageis allowed to move to the second position. A star wheel mounted at thebottom of the passageway and rotated by a gear-motor arrangement whichis activated by an operator. The star wheel removes one can at a timefrom the passageway. When the passageway is empty, the latch meansallows the carriage to move to the second position which allows one canfrom each of the magazines to enter the passageway. The cans rest on therods and urge the carriage toward the first position wherein the cansare free to leave the passage by means of the star wheel. The variousmagazines are loaded from the end opposite the passageway so that thefirst cans placed in the magazine are the first cans used.

Background of the invention Field of the inventi0n.-ln the productdispensing field and especially in can dispensing apparatus, it isimportant that the cans be handled relatively gently and that the oldercans be dispensed first. It is also important to provide apparatus withvery few moving parts and which operates reliably.

Description of the prior art.--In the prior art devices for dispensingcans, a multiplicity of moving part are utilized to dispense the cans.thereby, increasing the complexity of servicing the apparatus anddecreasing the use ful life and reliability. Also, in the prior artapparatus, reloading the can-receiving magazines is difiicult and timeconsuming because they are not vended in a first-in, firstout manner. Ingeneral, to reload all of the prior art apparatus, the cans alreadycontained therein must be removed and placed in the apparatus last tomake sure that they are dispensed first.

Summary of the invention The present invention pertains to an improvedcan dispensing apparatus and more particularly to can dispensingapparatus having very few moving parts and constructed so that the firstcans placed in the machine are the first cans out.

Patented Dec. 17, 1968 "ice It is an object of the present invention toprovide new and improved can dispensing apparatus.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide candispensing apparatus which dispenses the cans on a first-in, first-outbasis.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide candispensing apparatus which is highly reliable and simple to maintain.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying specification,claims, and drawings.

Brief description of the drawings Referring to the drawings, whereinlike characters indicate like parts throughout the figures:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a vending machine having a plurality of thepresent apparatus therein, parts thereof removed;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of a single vending apparatus as seen fromthe line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the apparatus as seen looking from left to rightin FIGURE 2, parts thereof removed;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view as seen from the line 4-4 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, parts thereof removed, with thevarious components in a different position;

FIGURE 6 is a view of the apparatus as seen from the line 66 in FIGURE3, parts thereof removed, with the various components in the samerelationship as illustrated in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 with the various components in adifferent relationship;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 with the various components inthe same relationship as illustrated in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the line 9-9 inFIGURE 4;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view as seen from the line 10-10 in FIGURE 2 onan enlarged scale;

FIGURE 11 is an elevational view on a slightly reduced scale as seengenerally from the line 1111 of FIGURE 10 showing the latch means indetail;

FIGURE 12 is a view of the latch means as seen from the line 1212 inFIGURE 11; and

FIGURE 13 is a schematic illustration of the electrical components inthe machine illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Brie] description of the preferred embodiment Referring to FIGURE 1, avending machine generally designated 20, is illustrated having fiveseparate vending modules, generally designated 21, therein. Each of themodules 21 operate separately and it should be understood that anynumber of modules 21 might be utilized in a machine. Also. in thisembodiment, the individual modules 21 in the machine 20 areinterchangeable and replaceable. In the FIGURES 2 through 12, a singlemodule 21 is illustrated for simplicity and is should be understood thateach of the other modules 21 are similar.

Referring to FIGURES 2 through 12, a module 21 is illustrated having ahousing 22 with a box-like configuration. The housing 22 has a pair ofparallel opposed side walls 23 and 24, a front 25, and a rear 26. Thetop and bottom of the module 21 have no operative function and do notenter into the description thereof. Also, it should be noted that thefront 25 and rear 26 refer to the position of the module 21 in themachine 20, and are used for expedience in the description rather thanas a limiting term. The module 21 is constructed to vend cans of thesize illustrated in the various drawings and the width between the sidewalls 23 and 24 is approximately equal to the length of these cans.Also, many of the remaining parts are constructed and will be describedrelative to the diameter of these cans. It should be understood,however. that modules 21 and machines can be constructed. as will bedescribed. so that cans having substantially any desired size and shapecan be vended.

A plurality of magazines 30 are formed within the housing 22 invertically overlying relationship by cutting the side walls 23 and 24and bending portions thereof inwardly to form ledges therealong. Asingle magazine 30 is formed by a pair of ledges. one on side wall 23and a mating ledge on side wall 24, lying in substantially the sameplane and slanting downwardly from the front 25 toward the rear 26. Inthis embodiment there are ten magazines all of them being approximatelyparallel and lying slightly more than the diameter of a can apart. Eachof the magazines 30 extends from approximately the front 25 to adistance somewhat greater than a can diameter from the rear 26. Avertical passageway 31 is formed between the ends of the magazines 30and the h rear 26 of the housing 22. The front 25 of the housing 22 isopen, and cans are placed in the magazines 30 therethrough. Because ofthe slant of each of the magazines 30, the cans are urged downwardlytoward the passageway 31 by the force of gravity. It should beunderstood that other methods could be utilized to force the cans fromthe magazines 30 into the passageway 31, but the apparatus shown is thepreferred embodiment and is utilized because of its simplicity.

The housing 22 has a plurality of elongated slots 35 in each of the sidewalls 23 and 24 adjacent the lowermost end of each of the magazines 30.Each of the slots 35 in the side wall 23 has a mating slot in the sidewall 24 which is approximately parallel and coextensive therewith. Eachpair of slots 35 in the side walls 23 and 24 extend from a positionapproximately the radius of a can above the ledges forming a magazine 30and adjacent the lower end thereof to a position approximately in a linewith the ledges forming the magazine 30 thereabove, but spaced therefrominto the passageway 31. The distance between the upper end of the slot35 and the rear 26 of the housing 22 is somewhat less than the diameterof a can, while the lower end of the slots 35 and the lower ends of eachof the magazines 30 lies approximately in a plane.

A carriage 36 has a rear portion 37 and two side portions 38 extendingoutwardly therefrom to provide a generally U-shaped cross section. Thecarriage 36 is positioned so that the rear portion 37 thereof overliesthe rear 26 of the housing 22 and the side portions 38 extend slightlyfarther than the slots 35. A plurality of rods 40 i are fixedly engagedin the side portions 38 of the carriage 36 so that one extends througheach pair of slots 35. A tension spring 41 is attached between the rear26 of the housing 22 and the rear portion 37 of the carriage 36 so as tobias the carriage toward a position in which the rods 40 are located atthe upper ends of the slots 35.

Latch means, generally designated 45, includes an elongated portion 46pivotally mounted at the upper end thereof on the rear 26 of the housing22 between the rear 26 and the carriage 36. The lower end of theelongated portion 46 has a protuberance 47 positioned thereon so as toproject into the passageway 31 through an opening 48 in the rear 26 ofthe housing 22 when the elongated portion 46 is hanging verticallydownward. Referring to FIGURES 11 and 12. the latch means can be seen indetail. A torsion spring 49 is affixed in the usual manner between thepivotal mounting means and the elongated portion 46 to produce a bias onthe latch means 45 urging the protuberance 47 toward the opening 48. Theside of the elongated portion 46 opposite the protuberance 47 andadjacent the carriage 36 has an outwardly projecting step 50 attachedthereto. The step 50 is comprised of a member 51 having a generallyU-shaped cross section. positioned in overlying relationship to theelongated portion 46. a pin 52 pivotally attaching the member 51 at theupper end thereof to the elongated portion 46. a pin 53 fixedly attachedto the elongated portion 46 and slidahly engaged in a slot in the member51 to limit the pivotal movement thereof and a spring 54 urging themember 51 outwardly away from the elongated portion 46. The step 50 ispositioned to engage an opening 55 in the rear portion 37 of thecarriage 36 adjacent the lower end thereof and maintain the carriage 36in a lower position wherein the rods 40 are in the lower-most end of theslot 35. The step 50 is constructed so that the carriage 36 is free tomove upwardly when the'elongatcd portion 46 is hanging verticallydownwardly and the protuberance 47 at the lower end thereof extends intothe passageway 31 through the opening 48. The opening 55 is engaged bythe step 50, thereby preventing upward movement when cans in thepassageway 31 force the protuberance 47 outwardly through the opening48.

A star wheel is rotatably mounted at the lower end of the passageway 31to remove one can at a time therefrom and direct it into an outletpassageway 61. The star wheel 60 is mounted between the side walls 23and 24 in the lower end of the vertical passageway 31 by an axlejournalled in the side walls 23 and 24. A gear 62 .is mounted exteriorlyof the side wall 23 on the outer end of the axle. The gear 62 is engagedwith an idler gear 63 which is driven by a drive gear 64. The drive gear64 is driven by a motor through an internal gear box 66. When the motor65 is energized through the circuitry. which will be described inconjunction with FIGURE 13. the star wheel 60 turns 90 degrees and thedrive gear 6 makes a complete revolution.

One end of an elongated arm is concentrically attached to a wheel 71which is fixedly attached coaxially to the drive gear 64 for rotationtherewith. As the wheel 71 rotates, the rotational movement istransferred to linear movement at the opposite end of the elongated arm70. An elongated slot 72 is formed in the arm 70 adjacent the oppositeend thereof and extends along the longitudinal axis thereof. A pin 73,which is fixedly attached to the outer surface of the side portion 38 ofthe carriage 36, is engaged in the slot 72 for sliding movementstherein. The pin 73 extends outwardly through the slots 72 a substantialdistance so that a hook 74 pivotally attached adjacent the end of theelongated arm 70, can engage the pin 73, under circumstances which willbe explained presently, and prevent movement thereof relative to theelongated arm 70. The hook 74 has an arm 75 attached thereto andextending outwardly approximately perpendicular thereto through a slotin a member 76 fixedly attached to the side wall 23 of the housing 22.The arm 75 converts the linear motion present at the end of theelongated arm 70 to rotational motion of the book 74. The length of theslot 72 and the position of the pin 73 is such that when the carriage 36is in its lower-most position, rotation of the wheel 71, and consequentrotation of the hook 74, does not cause the hook 74 to engage the pin73. However, when the carriage 36 is near its uppermost position,rotation of the wheel 71 causes the hook 74 to engage the pin 73 andraise the carriage '36 to its uppermost position. Since the wheel 71 andthe elongated arms 70 stop in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 8,the carriage 36 is maintained in its uppermost position at least untilthe nextrotation of the wheel 71.

Referring to FIGURE 13, an accumulator 80 is illustrated in block form,which accumulator is adapted to supply a suitable voltage, such as USvolts 60 cycles between a pair of lines 81 and 82, and, upon thereception of a prescribed quantity of coins. complete a circuit betweena line 83 and the line 81. The line 81 is connected directly to one sideofeach of the motors contained in each of the modules 21. In FIGURE 13.only the circuitry for two modules 21 is illustrated and it should beunder stood that any number of circuits can be connected thereto in amanner similar to the connection of motor 65 and its associatedcircuitry, which will be explained presently.

Motor 65 has associated therewith a double-pole, double-throw switch 84,a selector button 85, an electromagnetic coil 86, and a pair of latchinglevers 87 and 88. The lead 82 is connected to one movable contact 90 ofthe switch 84 having a pair of stationary contacts 91 and 92 associatedtherewith. The stationary contact 92 is connected directly to the othermovable contact 93 which has associated therewith a pair of stationarycontacts 94 and 95. The stationary contact 91 and the stationary contact94 are connected directly together and to a movable contact 90a of thenext double-pole, double-throw switch 84a. The stationary contact 95 isconnected to the opposite side of the motor 65. The lead 83 is connectedto one side of the selector button 85, while the other side is connectedto one side of the electromagnetic coil 86. The other side of the coil86 is connected through the normally closed contacts of a single-poledouble-throw switch 99, to the lead 81. The lever 87 is generallyL-shaped and pivotally mounted at approximately the center of theshorter arm. The movable contacts 90 and 93 of the switch 84 areconnected to the lever 87 so that they are normally in engagement withthe stationary contacts 91 and 94 respectively, but counter-clockwiserotation of the lever 87 brings them into engagement with the contacts92 and 95 respectively. The lever 88 is a generally elongated memberpivoted at one end and having a portion extending outwardly to form ahook adjacent the other end. A spring 96 is attached between thejunction of the two arms of the lever 87 below the pivot point andapproximately the center of the lever 88 and provides acounter-clockwise bias on the lever 87. However, the member 88 isnormally hooked over the upper end of the short arm of the lever 87 toprevent rotation thereof. When the coil 86 is energized, the corethereof forms an electromagnet which attracts the lever 88 causingclockwise rotation thereof and unlatching the lever 87. Clockwiserotation of the lever 88 increases the bias of the spring 96 whileunlatching the lever 87, which causes counter-clockwise rotation of thelever 87. The wheel 71 has a cam 97 attached thereto which engages thelower end of the long arm of the lever 87 to move the levers 87 and,consequently, 88 back into the latched position after a completerotation thereof.

In the operation thereof, when a proper amount of coins are inserted inthe accumulator 80 and the selector button 85 is closed, theelectromagnetic coil 86 is energized unlatching the levers 87 and 88 ifcans are in the passageway 31. Movement of the lever 87 in thecounterclockwise direction causes the movable contacts 90 and 93 toengage the stationary contacts 92 and 95, thereby, completing a circuitthrough the motor 65. The motor 65 then rotates causing the wheel 71 tomake a complete rotation and the star wheel 60 to move 90 degrees. Whenthe star wheel 60 moves 90 degrees, a can is removed from the passageway31 and dispensed into the outlet passageway 61. When the wheel 71 hasmade a complete revolution, the cam 97 engages lever 87, returning themovable contacts 90 and 93 into engagement with the stationary contacts91 and 94 and relatching the levers 87 and 88. The motor 65 is, thus,deenergized and no further movement occurs until the accumulator 80again receives the proper amount of coins.

In the operation of the mechanism in the single module 21, the magazines30 are filled from the front of the machine 20, or the upper end of eachmagazine 30, and the cans are retained in the magazines 30 by the rods40. When the passageway 31 is empty, see FIGURE 5, the latch means 45 isdisengaged from the opening 55 in the carriage 36, and the carriage 36moves upwardly under the bias of the spring 41 at the speed of themovement of arm 70. As the carriage 36 and arm 70 move upwardly, thehook 74 engages the pin 73 (it should be noted that latch means 45 willmove immediately upon the removal of the last can from the passageway 31and the wheel 71 and arms 70 will be returning to their stationaryposition as the carriage 36 moves upwardly), and maintains the carriage36 in its upper position, the rods 40 are at the upper end of the slots35 and cans are free to roll out of the magazines 30 into the passageway31. However, because the rods 40 are situated less than a cans diameterfrom the opposite side of the passageway 31, cans (except for cans inthe lower magazine) do not move down in the passageway 31 but simplyrest on the rods 40. Cans in the lower magazine 30 move directly intothe passageway 31 striking the latch means 45 and reactivating theswitch 99 as will be apparent presently.

During the above-described movement, a can is situated in the star wheel60, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, and activation of the motor to dispensethis can rotates the wheel 71 and lowers the arm and book 74. As thehook 74 is lowered, the carriage 36 moves downwardly under the weight ofthe cans resting on the rods 40 until the pin 73 is disengaged from thehook 74, and the rods 40 rest in the lower ends of the slots 35.Movement of the rods 40 in the slots 35 lowers the cans gently in thepassageway 31 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 to the positionillustrated in FIGURE 4. As the cans move into the position illustratedin FIGURE 4, the latch means '45 again engages the carriage 36 andprevents upward movement thereof.

The limit switch 99 is attached to the rear 26 of the housing 22 so thatthe elongated portion 46 of the latch means 45 depresses the buttonthereof and engages the pole or movable contact with the otherstationary contact of the switch 99 when the passageway 31 is empty. Theother stationary contact of the switch 99 is connected to the lead '82through an indicator light 98, which indicates when energized that themodule 21 associated therewith is empty. When the latch means 45 is inthe position illustrated in FIGURE 4, the switch 99 is disengaged and inthe normal position. Thus, when all of the magazines 30 and thepassageway 31 are empty, the latch means 45 remains in the positionillustrated in FIGURE 5 and the switch 99 is engaged, opening thecircuit to the coil 86. It should be noted that the module 21 isdesigned so that at this time a can remans in the star wheel 60. Thus,for machines such as pop vending machines, which require cold cans,there is always a can left in the module 21. This can will be the firstcan vended after the module 21 is refilled, and, if cooling is required,will be cool so that no time lag is required before the machine 20 canbe used. It should be understood that the star wheel 60 might besituated at the other end of the passageway 61 so that more than one canremains in the module 21 after the switch 99 is engaged, if it isdesired. The operation of the module 21 will remain substantially thesame but the passageway 61 will retain or store cold cans.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of thisinvention, further modifications and improvements will occur to thoseskilled in the art. I desire it to be understood therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular form shown and I intend inthe appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. Can dispensing apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing having a plurality of can receiving magazines mountedtherein, said housing defining a passageway in communication with oneend of each of said magazines for receiving cans from each of saidmagazines therein;

(b) carriage means attached to said housing for movement between a firstand a second position;

(c) means biasing said carriage means toward said first position;

(d) gate means positioned adjacent said one end of each of saidmagazines and operatively connected to said carriage means for movementinto a magazine closing position when said carriage means is in saidsecond position and into a second position when said carriage means isin said'firs-t position;

(e) latch means including .a portion mounted for movement between afirst position, in which said carriage means is engaged thereby andmaintained in the second position, and a second position, said portionof said latch means being maintained in said first position by canspositioned in said passageway and moving into said second position uponthe removal of a prescribed number of cans from said passageway;

(f) said latch means further including means for biasing said portion ofsaid latch means toward said second position; and

(g) means operative to remove a can from said passageway and dispensethe same upon the activation thereof.

2. Can dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidmagazines are disposed in vertically overlying relationship and saidpassageway is disposed approximately vertically at one end thereof.

3. Can dispensing apparatus .as set forth in claim. 1 rwh'erein saidgate means move into a passageway closing position in the secondposition for preventing movement of cans through said passageway.

4. Can dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 having in additionsecond latching means connected to said can removing means and adaptedto latch said carriage means in the first position after the movement ofsaid carriage means into the first position upon the removal of theprescribed number of cans from said passageway, said second latchingmeans unlatching said carriage means in response to the activation ofsaid can removing means and allowing said carriage means to move to thesecond position.

5. Can dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said gatemeans in the passageway closing position, are disposed in saidpassageway in a manner to receive cans from said magazines thereon andurge said carriage means toward the second position by the weightthereof.

6. Can dispensing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 'wherein saidmagazines are mounted at :an angle to the horizontal such that cans areurged toward said passageway under the influence of gravity and the endof each magazine opposite said one end is open for replenishing thesupply of cans therein.

7. Can dispensing apparatus comprising:

(a) a generally box-shaped housing having a plurality of can receivingmagazines mounted in vertically overlying relationship, said housingdefining a generally vertical passageway in communication with one endof each of said magazines for receiving cans from each of said magazinestherein;

(b) said housing having elongated slots through the walls thereof ateither side of and adjacent said one end of each of said magazines, saidslots extending away from said one end generally toward the center ofsaid passageway;

(c) carriage means having a generally U-shaped cross section disposed inslidable engagement over said housing so that the portions forming thearms of the U overlie said slots through said housing;

((1) a plurality of rods fixedly positioned in said overlying portionsof said carriage means, said rods extending through said slots in saidhousing so as to each be in a magazine blocking position at one end ofsaid slots and in a passageway blocking position at the other end ofsaid slots;

(e) spring means urging said carriage means toward a position in whichall of said rods are at said other end of said slots;

(f) latch means including a pivotally mounted downwardly extending leverhaving a first position in which said latch means engages said carriagemeans and maintains it so that said rods are all at said one end of saidslots and a second position in which it extends outwardly into saidpassageway;

(g) spring means biasing said latch means toward said second position,said latch means being maintained in said first position by canspositioned in said passageway; and

(h) means operative to remove a can from said passageway and dispensethe same upon the activation t hereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,169,621 2/1965 Johnson etal.22l--125 X 3,194,431 7/1965 Garvin 221-251 X STANLEY H. TOLLBERG,Primary Examiner.

U.S. C1.X.R. 221-25l

